Tell me about Unis.

ripsnorter · Post by **ripsnorter** » February 5, 2007, 9:40 pm

Driving back from town tonight I saw a Slick on the side of the freeway. Spun my neck round, got whiplash, took the next exit and went back to investigate.

At first I didnt realize it was a unibody, but the grill was the same as my 62, which made no sense since the box matched the cab. then i finally noticed there was no seam whatsoever between box and cab heh.

I know nothing about unis, I've read around here you folks talking about them, but to be honest I'd never seen one til today. Its sitting off in the bushes a bit, looks like it hasnt been run since around 1970, and the back is full of garbage. It does however appear to be all there, (couldnt tell without climbing over the fence) with the exception of having a replacement hood from some unknown donor slick. All the glass is good etc from what I can see.

The odd part is that it had 8 lug wheels. (this time I checked both axles heh)

Did they make 3/4 ton unis?
Are unis valuable?
what makes them so desirable?
Are they rare or have I just never noticed them?
Whats a non-running but all there uni worth?

and most importantly....

Should I try and convince this guy to give up the truck to me?

I've been googling round trying to find info on unis, but no real luck so far as far as history goes.

Johnny Canuck · Post by **Johnny Canuck** » February 5, 2007, 9:47 pm

Did they make 3/4 ton unis?
Yes.

Are unis valuable?
Somewhat. Short F100 and M100 moreso than F250s, Big back windows more than small.

what makes them so desirable?
They look cool.

Are they rare or have I just never noticed them?
Relatively rare, it may surprise you how rare the F250 uni is, because they weren't real good work trucks to be honest.

Whats a non-running but all there uni worth?
Depends on the rust conditon, but I would put it in the 300-1000 dollar range, the top end being rust free.
and most importantly....

Should I try and convince this guy to give up the truck to me?
Well of course!!!

jkimbrel65 · Post by **jkimbrel65** » February 5, 2007, 9:52 pm

Yes they made f-250 unis. Yes they are rare. Only made 61-63. Big back windows are the rarest. Good uni tailgate is worth $300-400. Doesn't matter if it runs just solid. I would try to get it

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » February 5, 2007, 10:19 pm

IMO value of unis is somewhat different depending on what you want.

i disagree with the short and f100 being more valuable, i would rather have a long f250 and if looking to buy one in good condition to drive and use daily would pay more for the f250 than the f100 .(the roads here beat up the weaker f100s)
also the long ones can be put on a slick 4x4 frame without doing any major work to the frame.(except 66 f100 4x4).this is a big bonus to me.

you can take a uni, cut it at the roof seam in the back and across the floor in front of the gas tank and weld the bed and back wall/window onto any slick cab and presto, uni.

the valuable part and the part that must be in good shape is the bed.
under the front of the bed is a metal piece called a torque box, and the
less rust there the better.
the doors fit only the uni too.well they fit all but only match the uni to be correct.
tailgate is nice to have, but can be bought new.
i would try to get it if possible regardless of it being an f100 or 250 because if you want you can change axles to whichever you desire.

be aware that regardless of my values, opinions and needs,
i would not turn down a super deal on a short f100 uni
a slick is a slick whether its a short uni or an f800!
keep us informed.

Hawkrod · Post by **Hawkrod** » February 6, 2007, 12:27 am

Pay no attention to the Iceman he has a scewed perspective, he actually puts stuff in the back of his truck and drives on roads with ruts bigger than the speedbumps at WallyWorld! The truth is, them short Uni's are da' bomb! LOL Let him have all the long F250 Uni's since around here they are just parts trucks anyway. There is nothing more cool than a slammed SWB big back window Uni! Did I mention I have one? But you all know me, I am not biased at all! LOL! Uni's put the slick in Slick 60's! Hawkrod

BigTim · Post by **BigTim** » February 6, 2007, 8:23 am

Hawkrod wrote:There is nothing more cool than a slammed SWB big back window Uni! Uni's put the slick in Slick 60's! Hawkrod

Ditto that, I love the unis.

Post by **Greg D** » February 6, 2007, 9:01 am

Unis are most definately cool! JC went through all sorts of changes to get his. I would guess he would admit to still not regretting it.

Johnny Canuck · Post by **Johnny Canuck** » February 6, 2007, 9:13 am

We each have our preferences of course, the Iceman's needs are not the same as an urbanite's needs, but he is entitled to his opinion! See, Rip that truck is valuable to HIM!

The ultimate for me in the slick world Would be a big back window shorty uni on a Crown Vic frame with a 393-498 Windsor stroker and a t-5. I doubt if you could have more fun than that with your pants on.

But I will have to wait for that one. At least I have the short uni. In the spring and fall I get antsy about selling it sometimes, but in nice weather, when I am actually DRIVING mine, I doubt if I could give her up. Like Greg says, I had to jump too many hoops to get it here in the first place.. that's how it got the name Jinx!

BigTim · Post by **BigTim** » February 6, 2007, 9:27 am

Johnny Canuck wrote:with a 393-498 Windsor stroker

Wow

must have a big arm in that 498.

Johnny Canuck · Post by **Johnny Canuck** » February 6, 2007, 10:37 am

Doh! mis-typed that.. meant 408

BigTim · Post by **BigTim** » February 6, 2007, 12:33 pm

Johnny Canuck wrote:Doh! mis-typed that.. meant 408

Thought so, but I could not miss the chance at a ribbing.

498 Windsor would be cool. 450 something is about the biggest isn't it?

Hawkrod · Post by **Hawkrod** » February 6, 2007, 12:37 pm

As Foghorn Leghorn would say "I say, thats a joke son, get it?" I was just ribbin' the Iceman. Joke's tain't funny when ya got's ta' 'splain 'em! LOL Hawkrod

http://www.wiseacre-gardens.com/buttons ... horn04.wav

ripsnorter · Post by **ripsnorter** » February 6, 2007, 1:02 pm

Which brings me to my next question:

why did they make unis? I always thought that the reasoning for a 2 piece cab/bed was for heavy workloads that the box would flex independently rather than kinking or stressing.

I can kind of see the point of a 1/2 ton shortie, as theyre not nearly as hard worked, but I dont really understand Fords idea of making unis to be honest. Unless it was just as a precursor to the ranchero. Again though, that would be more in line of a F100 shortie.

I was kind of thinking if I could get the thing cheap enough, I might be able to make some money off it via flipping or parting it out. I can't really afford to keep it myself at the moment heh. (much as it intrigues me)

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » February 6, 2007, 1:13 pm

they made unis because the ranchero took off in the first few years of production. the uni is basically that if you really look at it and think a bit.
it was another jump into the "modern" era. unfortunately for Ford it did not catch on much better than the edsel, and saw the same 3 year run.

anyone who does not care for their f250 longbed and the 4.10 ,4.56 and 4.88 rear end is welcome to drop them off here anytime, no questions asked.

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » February 6, 2007, 1:19 pm

1957 ranchero

Satinblack · Post by **Satinblack** » February 6, 2007, 1:46 pm

Actually I have always prefered longbeds. And personally for my I thinnk the look of a longbed uni looks more proportioned in my eyes. And slammed to the ground, nothing like a long machine on the ground wether its an Impala, Lincoln, or a longbed

ripsnorter · Post by **ripsnorter** » February 6, 2007, 2:16 pm

My dad has 2 or 3 of those early rancheros around here actually Ice. Of course he also has in excess of 90 cars/trucks, all of which he's going to "get to" one of these days. I just hope they dont rot into the ground first.

The people that own the uni (it is a longbed by the way incase I didnt say) have it in a fenced in yard with chickens, dogs, and a large locked gate. No one came out when I was driving back and forth and stopped in front of their gate, so I'm going to have a hard time finding out about the truck for the moment.

Next time I'm up that way I'll stop and see if i can find their mailbox so i can get their name and call them. Nice thing is that its only about 5 miles away from me.

Course I also have that F100 4x4 shortie up the road that I want to grab....

sigh. no trailer and better priorities sucks

The Big M · Post by **The Big M** » February 6, 2007, 2:28 pm

I agree with Satinblack on the longbed unis.

The short uni always looked a bit stubby to me. That was before I saw one on a Crown Vic chassis though. I've decided that the shorties need to be slammed in order to look right in my eyes. But anyway...

The unis do seem to be growing in value. That's true of almost any old iron these days though. It seems even high-production plain-jane sedans from the 50's and 60's that were previously deemed undesirable are getting expensive.

I'd say the uni is still in a bit of a niche market. It all depends on the owner, of course. Some guys will see it as a valuable piece, while an old farmer might remember the time he dumped a load of gravel in the back of his, then found he couldn't open the door...

Johnny Canuck · Post by **Johnny Canuck** » February 6, 2007, 3:22 pm

To each their own, to my eye, the long uni has the wheels in the wrong place , too far forward, and the back end looks like a Bee's arse, too heavy. Ford has now gone the opposite way with the '06's and '07's the standard cab has the wheels way too far BACK, now

I guess because I use my eye in my work to judge proportion of things visually, that would be my professional opinion, but we all know opinions are like belly buttons

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » February 6, 2007, 3:26 pm

Johnny Canuck wrote:To each their own, to my eye, the long uni has the wheels in the wrong place , too far forward, and the back end looks like a Bee's arse, too heavy. Ford has now gone the opposite way with the '06's and '07's the standard cab has the wheels way too far BACK, now

I guess because I use my eye in my work to judge proportion of things visually, that would be my professional opinion, but we all know opinions are like belly buttons

the new chebby trucks look even worse.